THOR 7 is now set to start its final preparations before its launch by Arianespace, scheduled for mid-April 2015

Artistic rendition of the Thor 7 satellite on orbit.

THOR 7 is TSBC’s first growth satellite, providing expansion and restoration capacity for the distribution of broadcast and data-communication services throughout Europe. The spacecraft is to be launched from the Guiana Spaceport on board an Ariane 5 ECA launcher.

“With the launch of THOR 7, TSBc looks forward to further extending our position in the market and expanding our regional coverage,” said Morten Tengs, CEO, Telenor Satellite Broadcasting. “The HTS Ka-band payload on THOR 7, designed specifically for the mobility VSAT market, is a first for TSBc and will allow us to further increase our market share in the maritime and offshore sector, delivering cost-effective solutions and high-powered coverage over the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the Red Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean.

This marks the start of the THOR 7 launch campaign—TSBc’s mission team will now be stationed at Kourou during the campaign period to supervise final preparations before the launch.